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Job description library

Retail and hospitality job descriptions

Store, restaurant, bar, and hotel roles for front line teams. 8 free, ready-to-post templates with May 2025 BLS pay data, exempt status guidance, legal notes, interview questions, and a PDF.

Retail stores, restaurants, and hotels hire more often than almost anyone else, so small improvements to the job description pay off quickly. In these jobs, applicants decide in seconds, usually on a phone. They want the hourly rate, the schedule, and what the work actually involves, and they move on if they can't find them.

These descriptions are short where they need to be and specific where it counts: tip structure, predictable scheduling, food handler and alcohol service rules, and the child labor limits that apply when you hire teenagers. They're written for single locations and multi-unit operators alike.

8 retail and hospitality job descriptions

Retail and hospitality pay snapshot

National median pay for every role in this department, highest to lowest. Use it as a starting point, then check local data before you set a range.

RoleMedian hourlyAnnual equivalentOvertime status
Restaurant manager$33.36$69,390Exempt or nonexempt
Line cook$17.98$37,400Nonexempt
Housekeeper$17.07$35,510Nonexempt
Retail sales associate$17.03$35,420Nonexempt
Restaurant server$16.94$35,240Nonexempt
Hotel front desk agent$16.86$35,070Nonexempt
Bartender$16.51$34,340Nonexempt
Cashier$15.81$32,880Nonexempt

Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Annual equivalent is the hourly median x 2,080 hours. Overtime status is our general guidance; duties and pay decide each case.

Retail and hospitality hiring FAQ

How do I write a job description for hourly retail or restaurant roles?
Lead with pay, schedule, and location, keep the duty list to the essentials, describe the physical demands honestly, and keep it short enough to read on a phone.
Can I advertise tips as part of pay?
You can describe typical tip earnings, but be accurate and don't present tips as guaranteed wages. If you take a tip credit, you must inform employees of the tip credit rules before applying it.
What laws matter most for hospitality hiring?
Tip credit and tip pooling rules, state food handler and alcohol service requirements, predictable scheduling ordinances, and federal and state child labor rules for workers under 18.

Other departments

HealthcareOffice and administrativeSales and marketingFinance and legalTechnologyHuman resourcesManagement and operationsWarehouse and logisticsSkilled trades and facilities

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